Our latest session is an explosive rush of heroic guitar work, arena-sized rhythms, and the kind of tangy vocal melodies you'll want to slurp up again and again. Welsh outfit Catfish and The Bottlemen are only on their first spin of the States, but after wearing down our copy of the band's Communion endorsed EP Kathleen and The Other Three in the office we knew we had to get these precocious newcomers in front of our cameras.

Filmed before a craggy, blood red backdrop, sliced by beams of light and flair, this is a mesmerizing capture of the band in a subterranean environment. Launching through "Homesick", "Kathleen", and "Pacifier", singer Van McCann leads his band through 3 dazzling cuts from the EP, discussing topics that range from his fab life, the origins of the band's infamous name, and British colloquialisms along the way. Have a look at this neat and tidy profile of a band we're just a little excited about.

- Everything's great. I've got the best life ever. I've got this puppy I own. She's cute as fuck. She's called Mary. She's very cute. My life is like perfect. You know what I mean? Like my mom and dad are great, my girlfriend's great, my dog's great, the band's great, you're all great. It's great. I'm not ill. It's great. Everything's cool. The infamous name. The first few years of my life, I spent travelling around Australia, like with mom and dad. One of my first memories of music is like sitting outside this cafe, seeing this busker play. He used to play, like, a coat rack, filled with like, bottles hanging off it, like half full of water, just stuff like that, and then he was called Catfish and the Bottlemen. So when it came to name of the band, I thought it was quite a weird thing to call it. I kinda regret it now because like when you come over to America and you try and tell drunk guys like what your band name is, they're like, "What? What the fuck are you saying, man?" I got misled, mistook, discard Anything that I said See, I'm not the type to call you when I'm drunk But I got some lies to tell She hates her work but loves to flirt Shame, she don't work with me She gets uptight and don't like when I'm gone But, she won't let on to me I said I'm only looking out for you She said it's obvious that's a lie But I only ever put out for you You know it's obvious you don't try I got mistook and took dissent And it's not as if you didn't notice But I tried to stay clear in its place Wound up with fuck all to show for it She said you never got that from me She said you never got that from me She said you never got that from me Oh, but you got that look from me I said I'm only looking out for you She said it's obvious that's a lie And I only ever put out for you You know it's obvious you don't try I said I'm only looking out for you She said it's obvious that's a lie I only ever put out for you You know it's obvious you don't try I got misled, mistook, discard Anything that I said See, I'm not the type to call you when I'm drunk But I got some lies to tell - It's just like positive, trying to make people happy, trying to make people dance and it's honest. It's like, I think, what we do is like, especially like in England, I don't know how like American are gonna react to it yet 'cause it's so early on, but like, I think it like speaks to people, like you actually speak in real life. You know what I mean? Like all the kind of colloquialisms and stuff like that, it's just very normal. I try, like really hard, to make the lyrics talk to you like you would be spoken to. Instead of like, you know, like the Eagles, when they write a love song, it's like how it would be in the movies. If we wrote one, it's like, how it really is, like throwing plates at each other and stuff like that. So yeah, that's what we try and do anyway. The impression I get, like meeting people after gigs and stuff, and they're like really, it means a lot to them, and they always say like the lyrics mean a lot to me and the sound is just like, I listen to it every day and stuff like that. So I think it's just, I would like to think it was just the way the people being spoken to by it, if you know what I mean. The way the music speaks to people. It's not like false. We're not making stuff up as we go along. This song's about real things and like things that happen to people, you know, stuff like that. I hope people feel like a bit refreshed by it 'cause I don't think there's been a band for a long time that's done that. You're simpatico And of all the lift homes and all the mixed feelings You're cuts above And you don't own worries or a chest full of heartache Yes I know That I'll never work out exactly how you're thinking But let me know when I'm needed home And I'd come You can leather me with your lips I've gotta give it to you You give me problems When you are not in the mood I've gotta give it to you You give me problems And made me give in to you Her dealer hates me you know He used to see her but she sold Him off on down the river It's impractical To go out and catch a death with a dress fit for the summer So she don't Instead she calls me up with a head full of filth Yes I know That I'll never acquiesce anything I'm thinking But let me know when I'm needed home And I'd come You can leather me with your lips I've gotta give it to you You give me problems When you are not in the mood I've gotta give it to you You give me problems And made me give in to you Her dealer hates me you know He used to see her but she sold Him off on down the river Oh - It's called Kathleen and the Other Three. Yeah, it's just like kinda a joke which stuck, you know. I wanna call the album Kathleen and the Other Ten, but then I thought people might think I was talking about girls. And then it'd be like Kathleen and those other ten bitches, you know. But like that's not the case. It was just like, 'cause Kathleen is, we've rerecorded the other three for the album. So Kathleen is, yeah, that's gonna be the album version. So it's like Kathleen. It was just like Kathleen and the Other Three as if they're terrible. So that was the kind of joke, really and we just kinda liked it, so. Going to America is pretty mind blowing. Yeah, this is the first time we're here as a band. It's amazing. It's nuts. We were talking about the other day and I was just saying like the fact that I could write a song, say like in like a flat or something that was good enough to fly me across the world. Do you know what I mean? It's just like a song and it's, you know, or someone's bribed somebody, you know. There's always something to hide There's always someone to lead on with you Obligated rewind. Evidently proves that I didn't need you She said 'Oh please, you're obsessed I said she looked over-dressed She deffo didn't like that no She said 'I'm feeling like it's brewing up When you say you don't need me And you are nothing without me Oh, but babe You know I've tried and failed But you Just don't know how it feels To lose Something you never had and never will There's always some kid to snide They took my mother at 13 And patched her fickly eyes Evidently proved that I don't need you or no one She said it's you I detest I said she looked unimpressed She deffo didn't like that no She said I'm feeling like it's brewing up When you say you don't need me And you are nothing without me Oh, but babe You know I've tried and failed But you Just don't know how it feels To lose Something you never had and never will Oh, but babe You know I've tried and failed But you Just don't know how it feels To lose Something you never had and never will I'm a pacifier Whoa ohoh ohoh I'm a pacifier Whoa ohoh ohoh I'm a pacifier Whoa ohoh ohoh I'm a pacifier Whoa ohoh ohoh I got misled, mistook, discard Anything that I said Take me out back show me peril, doll Cause I've got some lies to tell

Artist Bio

Kathleen and the Other Three, the U.S. debut EP from fast-emerging Welsh rockers Catfish and the Bottlemen, is out now via Communion Records. The recording will act as a preview to their debut full-length album, expected 2015 (further details to come). Already beloved in the U.K., the four-piece is being hailed by Evening Standard for their "polished, energetic piece of work," while The Guardian praises their "surging riffs and energetically splayed choruses."

Kathleen and the Other Three was produced by Jim Abbiss (Arctic Monkeys, Adele) and Ian Grimble (Travis, Manic Street Preachers) and recorded in London and Wales. Of the new music, front man Van McCan explains, "Were so excited to finally release something in the U.S. With this EP weve tried to put songs on it that grip instantly short but explosive, with relatable lyrics. It feels like we're starting from scratch again. No one knows us and that really excites me."

To celebrate the release the band just embarked on their first official stateside tour that includes a series of dates headlining Communions critically lauded club nights. Most recently they performed at Governors Ball and are also set to appear at Bonnaroo. Following these U.S. dates they will tour extensively throughout the U.K. and Europe with over 30 major festival appearances including Reading, Leeds and Strawberry Fields. Additionally, the band recently released a video for their latest single "Kathleen".

Catfish and the Bottlemen is Van McCann (vocals, guitar), Billy Bibby (lead guitar), Benji Blakeway (bass) and Bob Hall (drums). The band signed to Communion records in 2013 and made a splash onto the London music scene with their song "Pacifier".